The Ameliorative Effect of Green Tea, Garlic and Vitamin C on Arsenic Toxicity in Male Mice: Biochemical and Histological Forensic Perspectives

Abstract

Arsenic is a heavy metal with toxic effects on human health
and is widely found in the environment. It is used in suicides and,
hence, acquires forensic impact.
Sixty adult male albino mice weighing 30-40 g were subjected
to a sub-lethal dose of sodium arsenate (40 mg/kg body weight)
to investigate hematological, biochemical and histopathological alterations
in liver and kidney. The mice were also co-treated with
green tea, garlic and vitamin C to reveal the protective role of these
herbal and synthetic antioxidants.
Arsenic induced significant declines in all blood parameters,
while green tea, garlic and vitamin C ameliorated these affected
hematological parameters. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate
transaminase (AST) were significantly increased in the sodium
arsenate treated group, while green tea, garlic and vitamin C ameliorated
these increases in enzyme levels. Creatinine and urea were
significantly increased in arsenic treated mice. These renal parameters
become normal in mice co-treated with green tea, garlic and
vitamin C. Arsenate-treated mice showed venous congestion, sinusoidal
dilatation, mononuclear cell infiltration and periportal fibrosis
in liver sections. Kidney samples from the same group revealed
interstitial hemorrhages, mononuclear cell infiltration, glomerulonephritis
and proximal tubular necrosis. Hepato-renal injuries were
greatly reduced, particularly in animals that received both green tea
and garlic.
The herbs used have a potential for ameliorating and protecting
against the hepato-renal toxicity caused by arsenic and need further
studies. This study revealed the possibility of using liver and kidney
as indicators to ascertain arsenic poisoning in forensic caseworks